Sugar Rush (Friend-Zoned 3)

No one said being a parent was easy.

***

Helena

The White Rabbit is just how I remembered it. I’m glad to be back.

I spent the afternoon getting ready with Nat, seeing as she had the afternoon off. Most of the afternoon was spent eating, bitching at each other, Nat throwing clothes at me excitedly, and me kicking clothes away, wearing a look of disgust.

No offence to my sister, but she’s much more open about her body than I am. I don’t like to show a lot of skin, but if I do show skin, it’s likely to be my back and shoulders, rather than my legs. We spent over an hour getting ready. We made up our faces, Nat did my hair, and I ended up wearing one of my own dresses. I look over at Nat and my inner self sighs in jealousy. She always was the fox of the family.

Take what she’s wearing right now: a simple cut, bright mustard-yellow dress hitting high up on her thighs with tan heels. That’s it. Her now brown hair is worn straight with minimal makeup as she glosses her lips and smiles at me. I smile back, but

there’s a shitload of envy in that smile.

My Grecian-style, white floor-length dress is twisted at the shoulders, and although simple, is one of my favorite dresses. I’ve worn it a heap of times, and when I find a new place to go, it’s always the first thing I go for. This is for a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s comfortable. Secondly, it’s flattering to my curvy body. Thirdly, it’s quaint and charming. All I have to do is slip on a pair of flat gold sandals, add a few big gold bangles, and top it off with a pair of dangly earrings. I wanted to leave my hair up, but Nat wasn’t having it. She made me wear it down, gently adding loose curls in my already wavy hair.

She dusted my cheeks with gold shimmer, lined my eyes, and put a crap-ton of mascara on me. I don’t know how she did it, but I sort of look ethereal, like a goddess…in a very human kind of way. Either way, I feel good going out tonight. I want to look my best. After all, I’m on the prowl. Max can eat a dick.

Ash comes in without knocking. I mean, why would he knock while breaking in through the back sliding door? He just strides on in like he owns the place. Might have something to do with the fact he bought the apartment building last year. He jerks his chin at me and states, “Nice.” Then he spots his wife. His eyes glaze over at the sight of Nat’s ass as she checks herself in the mirror. She spots him in the reflection and winks at him. He mutters, “Nicer.”

I’m offended. Well, no, I’m not. Mock-offended, really. I scoff and throw one of my many stuffed toys at his head. “Thanks, bonehead.”

He sheepishly rubs at the back of his neck. “You look hot too. In a sisterly way.” We both stiffen and recoil at the off-key statement. He points a finger at me. “Don’t repeat that. That was sick.” Closing my eyes, my body shakes in silent laughter. For a man who looks like he’s the epitome of cool, Ash is just…not.

Nat graces us with her presence. “Ready to go, kids?” She smacks a kiss on Ash’s cheek, leaving behind a glossy mess. He doesn’t even wipe it away, just snags her around the waist and pulls her close. In a dance they choreographed long ago, she comes willingly, moving to his front. He bands both arms around her middle, resting his chin on her head. This pose they’re in, I can’t remember seeing anything that looked more natural in the world. This pose…it’s just them. I love it. It makes me happy.

I’m ready. “Hell yeah. Watch out New York; I’m about to tear shit up.” Ash shoots me a warning look. I quickly amend, “Yeah, New York, you better watch it, ‘cause I am going to tear your shit up in a moderately and unobtrusive way, ya hear?”

Nat bursts into laughter and calls out a high-pitched, “Holla!”

I pick up my bag and purse my lips. “That’s just how I roll, yo.”

Chapter Nine

Helena

We arrive to The White Rabbit long before anyone has even lined up to get in, even though it opens at eight. But, really, who starts their clubbing journey at eight? None of the cool kids, that’s who. I’m actually glad for it though. Being that all the gang are here, I can catch up with them without being interrupted or being knocked down by drunken fools.

Last year, Nik axed the VIP area of the club. The area is still there and it still gets used, but now it’s strictly reserved for family and friends. And being the cool brother he is, he even reserved a booth for his newly legal little sister, Isa, who turned twenty-one just months before. He said this was because she’d earned it, being that she’d always been a sweet kid and had kept up her grades. But we all knew it was just a way for Nik, Max, and Ash to keep a close eye on her and who she is hanging out with, without outright asking.

Stupid men. They think she doesn’t know. She knows, all right.

Nat and I sit at the booth with our cocktails and talk. Soon after, Tina arrives with Lola and Mimi in tow. By nine, we’re laughing and talking up a storm. Lola nudges my shoulder. “So, you leave a guy back home sobbing his little heart out?”

I roll my eyes. “No, dorkette,” I wiggle my brows, “I left about ten. And they all cried. One proposed.”

Nat almost loses her drink. She snort-coughs, then asks through a wheeze, “Is that shit true?” I throw her a deadpanned look. Her shoulders slump. “That’s what I thought. I mean,” she looks me up and down, “who’d be stupid enough to want to marry you?”

I glower and pull her hair. She yelps then reaches over to pinch my arm. I squeak. We both mutter at the same time, “Bitch.”

Mimi cuts in with, “Ya know, I never thought of you as a one-night-stand sort of chick.” She looks me dead in the eye. “You ever had one before?”

I sip my drink and shake my head at the same time.

Nat scoffs. “They’re messy.”

Tina nods emphatically and adds, “And awkward.” Everyone stares at her. Tina’s only ever slept with two men in her life. She quickly utters with a small shrug, “Or so I hear.”